549 
185G, and his widow kept on the decoy, with one, Williams, as a 
decoymau. She gave it up to her brother, Mr. Harwin (my 
informant) in 18G2. Williams continued to act as decoyman, 
for about eight years, when one night he fell into a fen 
ditch and was drowned. Ilarwin says he had some good 
seasons ; “ on one occasion, when a thaw set in, the fowl came in 
hungry from the sea-coast, wo drove up seventy -five wild ducks at 
once, being the most I ever saw taken at once. I have seen from 
fifty to sixty taken many times. After Williams’ death I managed 
the decoy myself two years ; my fortune in decoying was not so 
good as hitherto. The duck catching was nice amusement, but 
the working the decoy was trying work in frosty weather.” This 
decoy was given up in 1872, and has not since been used. 
A decoy in the parish of Horkwohl, last worked by one Burgess, 
about forty years ago, was discontinued in consequence of its being 
too close to the next-mentioned for both to be worked with profit. 
Another old decoy was situated in the parish of Lakenlieath, 
just on the Suffolk side the border, but so near that my referring 
to it needs no excuse. Mr. II. M. Upcher has kindly supplied me 
with the following information with regard to it. He says, “ I can 
find out nothing about the lime of its being made ; the last man 
who worked it was a Mr. Williams, who hired it of W. Eagle, Esq. 
Williams one year cleared .£1000; he used to send up a ton and 
a half of duck to London four times a week. One old man 
declares he once saw 3000 fowl sitting outside the decoy in the fen 
waiting for those inside to be taken to make room for them, as the 
decoy was so full, it looked as if you could not prick a pin in 
anywhere. This has not been worked for about twenty-five years, 
and the pond is now entirely grown up j it was the best decoy 
in the fen.” This decoy was abandoned at the time the railway 
was made from Brandon to Ely, and I am informed that the 
proprietor brought an action against the Railway Company for 
damages, which he recovered. I have not, however, succeeded in 
finding any report of the case (if it ever came into court), nor can 
I learn any particulars about it. 
One more old decoy, aud I have enumerated all that I have been 
able to discover ; this was situated on what is still known as the 
“ Decoy Common,” in the parish of Besthorpe, near Attleborough. 
The Rev. Edward Bannister informs me, no one is now living who 
r R 
